This is an often-repeated piece of advice for numerous people that sharing custody a pet following a split is a recipe for trouble. The consensus suggests such situations prevent ex-partners from healing, create logistical nightmares, spark arguments, and prove frustrating across the board. Seemingly, and in a twist suited to a streaming movie, it reportedly leads to the canine in question to feel down.
While respecting the inner life of animals – pet parents observe their profound sensitivity. For a masterclass in pet despair, one need only look a past film. It seems certain that a dog like Merv, a scruffy terrier type played by Gus the Dog, would have a hard time coping with split households. Whether this premise an entire Christmas romance around this situation holds water is debatable at best.A Familiar Formula
Honestly, Merv, written by its screenwriters and directed by director Swale, makes no grand claims more profound than a light film. This is a Christmas movie from a major tech-and-media conglomerate – the depth are modest. The plot unfolds as simple and direct: former spouses Russ, played by Charlie Cox and Anna, portrayed by Zooey Deschanel, realizing that their post-breakup gloom is rivaled only by their dog's, embark on a uplifting getaway to a dog-friendly resort. There, inevitably, they will undoubtedly stumble toward the idea that they are better together. Ensemble players – including familiar faces – are crafted as the usual assortment of types. Its aesthetic carries the feel of a branded content, with a holiday backdrop that is obviously artificial – think obvious snow effects surrounding verdant foliage as a warm climate stands in for the Northeast.
The Canine Charisma
If these predictable parts come together into something enjoyable rests upon the actors' work and one's taste for easy entertainment. Regarding the second aspect, Merv targets a specific viewer – individuals who seek out for dog videos. It provides a plethora of scenes focused on the pet. The primary selling point is the dog, and while this leads to some clunky cuts between animal action and people's faces, the movie does offer canine party antics, pet moping, and, in the end, doggie joy.
The Two-Legged Cast
Such effectiveness cannot be applied for the romantic plot. The film's approach wavers between relationship drama, zany antics, formulaic romance, and outright slapstick, not quite landing any one mode. This is not the actor playing Russ, who is willing to embrace the humiliating and funny demanded of the bizarre setting. His performance contains a likable self-deprecation that offers the bulk of the chemistry for this on-the-rocks couple. Anna's portrayer, as is her trademark, brings a certain millennial quirkiness that will be to your taste or not. Her portrayal can feel a touch too detached, especially when alongside Cox's genuine sadness. (On another note, the canine performer is convincing at flopping and whining – while no Messi from that acclaimed drama, he remains a scene-stealer.)
The story strives to add substance to the couple's history for scenes without their pet – a regrettable choice, since the dog is by far the cutest element of this film designed for charm. Expectedly, it achieves only baseline competence. The catalyst for their original breakup might seem more grounded and mature with less exposition and fewer direct statements. Ultimately, Merv is gentle and pleasant, meeting every expected note. Making a film on this shared-custody premise has potential – but it's not exactly a great one either.
- Merv becomes available on Prime Video starting December 10.
